WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that most farm loan borrowers will be able to make payments to their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov in early February.

For most of music history, those who heard a tune they liked but didn’t know the name of were left to deal with the mystery on their own. Sure, you could try in vain to hum or sing the tune to friends and family, but if no one could understand your rendition, or if the song was obscure enough, you’d have to go on singing a nameless track to yourself.

Enter: Shazam. This song recognition app changed lives (at least mine). With it, whether you caught the tail end of a song on the radio, or a coffee shop hit grabbed your attention, you could launch Shazam, and assuming the people around you would shut the hell up for 10 seconds, the app would let you know the name of the song and who sings it. Shazam still has trouble with background noise, but at least when it can hear a song, it does a good job at recognizing it. It’s so useful that Apple bought the company, and now it’s just built into your iPhone. That said, other companies have come a long way with their own music recognition capabilities. In fact, Google’s is so good, you can hum or sing a song yourself, and the app will identify the tune. Shazam definitely has some competition.

However, the original music identifier still has some tricks up its sleeve. Case in point: Shazam’s latest update adds the ability to recognize songs while you’re wearing headphones. Sure, you won’t be using it when listening to Apple Music or Spotify (the song title will be a bit obvious in those cases), but if you’re watching a movie or playing a game, you can use Shazam to identify an interesting song that might have otherwise escaped you.

Note: Shazam has had the ability to recognize in-app music playback before, but not while headphones were connected.

How to Shazam a song in an app while wearing headphones

To try it out, make sure your Shazam app is updated to the latest version, or your iPhone is updated to iOS 17.3. Now, whenever you hear a song you like in an app while wearing headphones, activate Shazam:

• On iOS, you can do that from the Control Center tile. If you don’t have it set up, head to Settings > Control Center, then add Music Recognition to Control Center.

• On Android, you can either swipe down and choose the Tap to Shazam option from your notifications, or choose the Pop-Up Shazam button that appears when you play music on your phone. If you don’t see these options, you’ll need to set them up. You’ll find options for both features in the settings menu of the Shazam app.

You can still Shazam songs that are playing in the world around you while wearing headphones, too. So long as you don’t play any music on your phone, and your headphones have a microphone, Shazam will pick up song as usual.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2024 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments designed to support the U.S. specialty crops industry. The launch of the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative will provide $65 million for projects that will help the specialty crop sector increase global exports and expand to new markets. Additionally, today USDA is announcing $72.9 million in grant funding available to support the specialty crops industry through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2024 — Safely serving friends and family during the big game is a win for everyone; don’t fumble it this Super Bowl Sunday. February 11 kicks off Super Bowl LVIII, and football fans will be huddling up to watch the big game while enjoying their favorite foods. Whether you’re ordering delivery, or preparing and serving food to guests, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has some gameday plans to keep your Super Bowl from being intercepted by foodborne illness.

The idea of mesh networking has been around for several years. However, we didn’t start seeing the term pop up on wifi routers and devices until around the mid 2010s. That’s when companies like Eero, Google, and Netgear started rolling out “mesh networking kits,” which allowed you to blanket your home in a stronger wifi signal.

Despite being around for several years now, the idea of mesh networking is still a bit foreign to many people. As such, any talk of adding mesh networking to your home can bring about confusion and even some anxiety about whether you’re making the right choice when it comes to buying a new router. Thankfully, mesh networking isn’t nearly as complicated as it sounds.

What is mesh networking?

Mesh networking, as opposed to traditional wifi setups, uses multiple devices rather than just one router. While only one device is actually connected to the modem, all devices in the mesh can put out a full strength signal, and, crucially, piggyback off one another to stitch together one large wifi network. In short, it extends your coverage within your home while maintaining strength and speed.

Mesh has a big advantage over typical setups, even those with range extenders. Your home internet router, for example, has a set range that its signal can reach. While other devices like wifi range extenders and repeaters can extend this signal, they come at a cost, usually halving the bandwidth of any network they’re feeding off of. A mesh network expands that signal as well, but because of the way its designed, it doesn’t pull from the speed at all, allowing the full signal to reach wherever you need it to without any kind of bandwidth compromise.

What is a mesh networking kit?

A mesh networking kit typically includes a main router (which connects to your modem) as well as one or several satellites, which act as nodes that expand the wifi signal. Each node connects to the node that came before it, expanding your signal further with each satellite. Depending on the brand that you buy, these kits can offer an expandable range of up to 5,000 square feet.

One easy way to think of these kits, and the devices they offer, is to imagine that they are all separate blankets that have been sewn together to create a larger blanket that covers your entire home. Together they deliver a stronger and more cohesive experience that will improve your home wifi.

Do I need a mesh network?

While many of us have dead zones for our home wifi, not everyone will benefit from a mesh network. Mesh networking works best for those who have large homes, or homes with multiple floors and thick walls. That’s because these thick walls and floors make it more difficult for the wifi signal to travel through, so a traditional router may have trouble getting a strong signal to these areas of your home.

With a mesh network, though, your satellites or nodes can pick up the slack, broadcasting a full strength signal to areas that would otherwise receive a diminished signal, or no signal at all. You’ll experience the same speeds as the original signal throughout your entire home. And, because mesh wifi all runs on the same SSID (wifi network name) and password, you don’t need to switch between networks as you connect to different nodes.

If you only have a couple of dead zones, like say, near your TV, then buying one of the best Wi-Fi extenders can often be cheaper, and it will solve the problem well enough. You’ll lose out on some of the speed that your original network offers, but you won’t end up overpaying to fix a problem that can be fixed for much cheaper.

What mesh networking system should I buy?

If you think that a mesh network is something you need, then you have plenty of options to choose from. Those looking for a budget-friendly option will find that the Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System offers solid square footage and speeds at an affordable price of just $115.99 for a three-device package.

If you want something that’s easy to expand, then the Eero 6+ is a solid option, and it starts at just $139.99, though that is for each device. You can purchase multi-packs off Amazon, which can save you some money if you need multiple devices in your mesh network. Each device covers up to 1,500 square foot, though, so that should be more than enough for most folks.

Finally, those looking for a good gaming setup for mesh networking will find the ASUS ROG Rapture GT6 2-Pack is a solid choice. It runs $479.99 at list price, but it can often be found for much cheaper, and it’s designed with a ton of gamer-centric features that may make the price a bit more justifiable for many.

Check out the mesh networks recommended in this piece:

• Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System: $115.99 (three-pack)

• Eero 6+: $139.99 (each)

• ASUS ROG Rapture GT6 2-Pack: $479.99

Super Bowl LVIII kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET. This year, the game is being broadcast by CBS with more than 10 hours of coverage. Even if you don’t have cable, there are a few ways, both paid and free, that you can watch all the action live from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Sign up for a live TV streaming service

There are a handful of streaming services with live TV that include CBS (Sling TV is a notable exception). Before signing up, check the channel listings for your zip code to confirm CBS is available in your local market.

• DirectTV Stream: $85 per month for the Entertainment plan, no free trial

• FuboTV: $80 per month for the Pro plan, 7-day free trial for new customers

• Hulu + Live TV: $77 per month, no free trial (includes ads on Hulu)

• YouTube TV: Currently $63 per month with promo, 30-day free trial for new users

When signing up for a free trial, make sure you know when you’ll be billed for a paid subscription and cancel before your trial expires. The game will be available in 4K for FuboTV and YouTube TV subscribers (included in the free trials but at an additional fee with paid plans). The Spanish-language broadcast is being hosted by Univision, which is also available on most live TV streaming services.

Recommended products

Looking for a new streaming device? Consider one of these products.

• Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

• Chromecast with Google TV (4k)

• Roku Ultra

• Apple TV 4K with 64GB Storage

Sign up for a Paramount+ trial

CBS is part of the Paramount+ package, and Super Bowl coverage will stream live for subscribers on all service tiers. The Essentials plan costs just $6 per month, and new users can sign up for a 7-day free trial. If you are taking advantage of the trial, you’ll want to sign up right before Feb. 11 and set a reminder to cancel if you don’t want to be charged for a paid plan. The Paramount+ stream will only be available in 1080p.

Watch over the air

Another free (ish) way to get the game is with over-the-air (OTA) TV. Of course, this requires you to invest in a digital TV antenna and have a place to put it that gets good reception. You should check the FCC’s reception map to see what signals are available in your area and try your antenna out before game day. Your mileage may vary, so if you want a stress-free watch experience, this probably isn’t the best option.

Other ways to watch the Super Bowl

You can also watch the game via the CBS Sports app or website if you already pay for CBS with a cable or satellite package or one of the live TV streaming services listed above. The game will also stream through the NFL+ mobile app—a subscription costs $7 per month.

Buying a house is rarely a fast, simple transaction. There’s a lot of money tied up for everyone involved, a lot of research and negotiation, and a lot of time—especially if you take the proper steps to protect yourself. When you finally find your dream home, you have it inspected, you make a good offer, and you hire a lawyer to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Closing on the house should be the end of all the stress and the beginning of the fun part—moving in and making the place yours. But if you’re not careful, move-in day could be a source of even more stress if the seller has played a dirty trick or two on you. Even if your home inspection went without a hitch and you had a great team of real estate and legal professionals on your side, home sellers sometimes try a few schemes to enhance their end of the deal.

Swapping appliances

Imagine this: You tour a potential new home, and you fall in love with the kitchen. It’s renovated beautifully, with gorgeous cabinetry and modern, new appliances.

Then you walk in after closing on the sale, and the appliances have all been replaced with cheap or used versions that are far from what you saw during the open house and subsequent visits. The seller has absconded with the pricey new stuff and left you with a broken-down kitchen. Or, just as bad, you discover that despite being new and high-quality, one or more of the appliances is broken or malfunctioning.

The law is a bit murky here; some experts will tell you that anything attached to the house, like an oven, is automatically part of the house, while others will tell you that appliances are considered possessions that aren’t automatically included in the sale.

To prevent this sort of situation, note whether the appliances are part of the home’s appraised value—if so, you have a strong case to force the seller to return them or compensate you. Make sure the appliances are specifically mentioned in the sale contract. Finally, insist on a final walk-through before closing—and take photos of everything for later comparison.

Dumbing down

Another dirty trick home seller play involves “smart” infrastructure like thermostats or door locks. These devices connect via the home network and offer rich functionality that can be controlled via smartphone apps.

If those “smart” features were part of your decision to buy this particular house, make sure you spell out in the contract that they stay put. Home sellers sometimes remove those pricey thermostats and other smart tech, replacing them with the dumb originals they removed when they upgraded. If you haven’t specified that they stay with the house, you may not have any way to get them back, even if you counted them as part of the value of the house when you made your offer.

Changing light fixtures

One common aspect of a home that people often assume will transfer to them when they buy it is the light fixtures—and even the bulbs. If you love the lighting that the current homeowners have installed, take photos and ask your real estate agent to make sure they’re explicitly mentioned in the contract. Otherwise you might not even notice that the fixtures have been swapped until it’s too late.

And check on those light bulbs, especially if the house has dynamic bulbs like Philips Hue. Those bulbs can cost as much as $50 each, so if the home is large and has a lot of lighting features you could be looking at a significant expense if the sellers swap those bulbs with cheaper versions—or simply remove the bulbs and leave you in the dark.

Leaving a mess

Moving house is a chaotic experience at the best of times. If the home you’re buying is occupied, consider asking the seller to stipulate in the contract the condition of the home you’ll be taking possession of. Otherwise, you might open the front door to find garbage left behind, scratched floors or walls from moving furniture, or even personal effects left behind the sellers might assume you’re willing to hold onto and return to them at some point.

Even if the home is unoccupied when you’re buying it, you should document the condition of the home when you do your final walk-through just in case the sellers decide to do anything that could leave behind a mess or cause damage to the property. If you do encounter a mess, there’s not much you can do unless it was contractually specified that the house be in a certain condition when you moved in, aside from contacting the previous owner and asking them to either clean it up or pay to have it done.

Hiding problems

Finally, remember that even the best home inspector may not catch everything. Home inspections are relatively brief and superficial, and are designed to catch obvious problems—which means an unscrupulous home seller can try to hide issues that are less obvious. Water damage in a ceiling? A patch-and-paint job a few days prior to an inspection can hide it—until you move in and the first heavy rain falls. Alternately, a home seller might employ cheap, temporary fixes to things, like clamps or rubber patches on damaged pipes or wood hardening agents on dry rot.

Although it’s illegal to hide what are known as “material defects” in a house up for sale, these sorts of tricks are harder to defend against because you typically can’t open up walls or crawl into every nook and cranny of a home to observe its infrastructure. What you can do is be aware of the common ways homeowners hide or obscure problems in the house and keep your eyes peeled for telltale signs like furniture in odd places, fresh paint (especially if it’s in just one small area), or the heavy use of air fresheners, which might be a sign of mold or other smelly problems in the house.

When you buy an expensive asset like a house, you have every right to expect it to be in the same condition as when you viewed it. Keep these dirty tricks in mind when you’re writing an offer on a new home, take lots of photos—and don’t hesitate to put everything in writing, no matter how obvious it might seem.

George and Amal Clooney. Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. What do these celebrity parents have in common? They’ve all used parenting coaches to assist them in raising their children. 

The concept of parents and caregivers seeking professional guidance to enhance their parenting skills has seen a significant rise in acceptance and popularity over the last two decades. This trend is prevalent in celebrity circles and among parents who aspire to lay a strong foundation of success for their family and have the means to pursue it. 

“We think we should have it all figured out, but sometimes getting a little outside perspective can make all the difference,” says Chelsea Kunde, a professional coach and founder of Building Blocks Family, located in Scottsdale, Ariz. 

While parenting coaches may be a popular choice among celebrities, they might be able to positively impact your family, too.

What does a parenting coach do?

Kunde works with a child’s parent(s) or caregivers to help them succeed in one or all of her three specialty areas: potty training, sleep, and discipline.

“My whole philosophy is that I want to work with families to create a home life that feels productive, happy, and like it’s working well,” Kunde says.”That might look different for every family. I always say, ‘What works in my house might not work in yours.'”

Another way Kunde helps parents is to enable them to get on the same page so their children see that they’re working together. Most parents have the same overarching goals, so Kunde works to break things down to help parents find that common ground. 

“You’re certainly not going to agree on every little aspect all the time,” she says. “That’s just normal. I do feel like it’s common for everybody, even if you have a super solid partnership. It’s going to present as a challenge at some point in child-rearing.”

A parent herself, Kunde knows that raising children can be very vulnerable, and it’s hard to ask for help, so she tries to put what she does in perspective for potential clients. 

“If my car were making a weird noise, I would get help for that,” she says. “It doesn’t mean that I have a horrible car. We might need some tweaking and extra help and support, and that’s a good thing. Getting a little outside perspective can make all the difference.”

If you think hiring a parenting coach will be like an episode of the reality show Supernanny, Kunde, who also has a Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, can tell you it doesn’t quite work that way. 

“I think it’s important to have goals with the families that you’re working with that meet their needs,” she says.

These goals are established in a consultation to develop trust and see where parents struggle. Each plan differs based on the information Kunde gathered about the family during their meeting and could include calls, texts, and emails as needed. 

“Typical consultations are about two hours in length,” she says. “It’s really collaborative. Some families add on and continue to work with me and have more one-on-one coaching. Some families say they need the two hours and are off and running on their own.”

What should you look for in a parenting coach?

Kunde says parents looking for a coach should find one that aligns with their philosophy. You can look at testimonials on their website or check out their social media feeds to get a read of what services they offer, where their perspective is, and if they’d be a good fit for your family. 

Kunde will often talk with parents for a few minutes to assess the situation and explain her services, and if it doesn’t look like she’ll be a good fit for them, she will tell them and offer the family a referral. 

“It’s just like picking a doctor or purchasing a house,” she says. “I really do feel like it comes down to making sure you’re compatible.”

What if you can’t afford a coach?

Parenting advice has come a long way since the days of Dr. Spock, and resources are more accessible now than they were back then. Coaches like Kunde offer group consultations, in-person classes, and plenty of content on social media and websites. Many coaches now provide an online option, as well, to get more bang for your buck.

“Sometimes you just need a little tip here or a little trick there,” she says. “It’s always helpful to know that you’re able to access people that way.”